Lugo v. LJN Toys, Ltd.

552 N.E.2d 162, 75 N.Y.2d 850, 552 N.Y.S.2d 914, 1990 N.Y. LEXIS 233

• Court: New York Court of Appeals
• Decided: February 20, 1990
• Status: Published

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed, with costs, and the certified question answered in the affirmative.

Plaintiffs instituted this action to recover for personal injuries sustained when the infant plaintiff was struck in the eye by part of a toy manufactured by defendant and thrown by a playmate. They claim that the toy, a doll known as "VoltronDefender of the Universe”, was a replica of a well-known television cartoon character who overcame enemies by hurling his shield at them. The part of the doll that struck the infant plaintiff was detachable and described variously as a spinning "shield”, "blade” or "star” with eight points around its circumference. Plaintiffs allege the product, marketed as suitable for children age four and older, was defective because improperly designed and because marketed without adequate warnings.

A manufacturer who sells a product in a defective condition is liable for injury which results to another when the product is used for its intended purpose or for an unintended but reasonably foreseeable purpose (see, Micallef v Miehle Co., 39 NY2d 376, 385-386; Biss v Tenneco, Inc., 64 AD2d 204, 206). Plaintiff has submitted expert evidence that, based upon customs and standards in the toy safety community, the part was defective because detachable from the doll and that throwing it was foreseeable because of the extensive television exposure in which Voltron did so. This was sufficient response to defendant’s motion for summary judgment to establish questions for the jury of whether the product was defective and reasonably safe for its intended use or a reasonably foreseeable unintended use.

Chief Judge Wachtler and Judges Simons, Kaye, Alexander, Titone, Hancock, Jr., and Bellacosa concur in memorandum.

Order affirmed, etc.